Ignition device eos



-Nov. 19, 1929.

S. G. MILLER IGNITION DEVICE FOR FUEL SUPPLY DEVICES Filed Feb. 11, 1926 Patented Nov. 19, 1929 PATENT OFFICE SIDNEY G. MILLER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA IGNITION DEVICE FOR FUEL-SUPPLY DEVICES Application filed February 11, 1926.

My invention is an ignition device for fuel supply devices, adapted particularly to lgnite the fuel by an electric spark when the fuel is turned on.

An object of my invention is a gas lighter particularly adapted for gas furnaces to light the gas by means of an electric spark, the spark being generated by a high tenslon currentdue toa make and break device in a low tensionv current and the make and break device being operated by the turning on of the A more specific object of my invention is to incorporate in a valve for turning on the 5 for gas furnaces or the like, a make and break device for low tension current, this current having a primary winding in a trans former to develop a high tensioned current, the high tensioned current being connected to a spark plug adjacent the gas burner, the

construction being such that on turning on the gas the make and break device is operated and thus developes a spark in the spark plug.

A further object of my invention is the construction of a vibrator for making and breaking an electric current, the vibrator continuing in operation for a substantially prede termined time governed by the amount of vibration being given on the rotation of a gas valve or the like.

Imay utilize my electric make and break device in connection with a number of types of gasvalves and illustrate the same attached to what is known as a remote control gas valve for agas furnace, the remote control valve being' operated by electric push buttons and' causing a current to pass through an electromagnet, the armature of the magnet being operatively connected to a rotary gas valve so 40 that on each pressure of the button the Valve will pass through the cycle of valve openings to give a low, medium and a full flow of gas and to shut off the valve.

The rotary element of the valve is provided with'a star wheel having teeth, these teeth engage a bent spring and vibrate the spring on the contact of each tooth with the spring. An auxiliary relatively fixed contact engages the spring and as the spring vlbrates torms a rub- 60 bing contact Withintermittent breaks. The

Serial No. 87,717.

spring and the contact are normally broken so that no current passes until they are brought into contact by the vibration of the spring. A low tension current through this make and break device is in the primary circuit of the transformer, the secondary high tension circuit being lead to a spark plug adjacent the gas burner of a gas furnace.

My invention will be more readily understood from the following description and drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a remote control gas valve as if taken on the line 1- 1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the valve as if 05 taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1, with the cover removed.

Fig. 3 is a diagram of an alternative form of valve of an oscillating type, showing the make and break device connected therewith.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electric wiring.

Referring first to the construction of Figs. 1 and 2, it is not necessary to describe in detail the construction of the remote control valve as it is not essential to the operation of my invention. However, the following details should be sufiicient to indicate how my invention is used. These valves are generally mounted in a housing 1 having a valve seat 2 and a rotary valve 8 therein. This valve may have one or more ports 4 adapted to register with the ports through the valve seat. The gas inlet to the valve is through the connection 5 shown dotted in Fig. 2 and the outlet through the end of the valve 3.

The rotary valve has an extension 7 with a gear 8 therein, this gear being operated by the reciprocating armature 9 of the electromagnet 10. hen this magnet is energized by pressing a remote button the reciprocation of the armature rotates the gear 8 and hence the extension 7 of the rotary valve by means of a pawl on the armature. In this manner the gas may be turned through one series of registering ports or there may be 95 difi'erent ports adapted to come into register in the proper sequence to give flows of differ ent quantities of gas.

My particular invention comprises mountin a toothed wheel or se ment on a shaft 12 formed either integral with the extension of the rotary valve element or operatively connected thereto to rotate in synchronism therewith. This wheel is shown in the form of a star wheel having teeth 13.

A supporting bar 14 preferably of conducting material is attached to the housing 1 in any suitable manner and carries a spring vibrator 15. This vibrator has a projecting nub 16 formed for the sake of simplicity by bending the spring, the nub being positioned to contact with the teeth of the star wheel on the rotary movement of such wheel. A weight 17 is secured to the upper end of the 7 vibrator so that when it is started vibrating it will continue the vibration for a considerable time.

A fixed contact arm 18 is secured to the supporting bar 14 with insulation 19 therebetween. A conductor 20 is connected to abinding post 21 which is insulated from the housing. The vibrator is provided with a contact surface 22 and the fixed contact arm 18 is provided with a rubbing surface 23; these 1 surfaces being adapted to engage and break the circuit. Normally the circuit is broken as shown in Fig. 2.

In the construction of Fig. 3, the valve 24 is indicated as of the oscillating type and be ing manually operated by the oscillating arm 25. The valve or the extension thereof is constructed with a toothed segment 26 adapted to engage the nub 16 of the vibrator 15. It will be understood that this valve will have suitable port as'desired.

The type of electric wiring I have found satisfactory is illustrated in Fig. 4.. A suitable source of supply is indicated by the nueral 27 indicating the battery. The electromagnet v10 is indicated by the coil 28, the remote control button 29 is in one of the leads 30 from the battery. The magnet is connected to the ground 31 and a lead 32 extends from the ground back to the battery. Thus on operating the punch button 29 a current is sent through the electro-magnet operating the armature and hence the valve.

A lead 33 extend from the battery through the primary winding 34 of an induction coil and to the stationary arm 18 of the make and break device. The vibrator 15 being connected to the bar 14 is thus grounded. The secondary 35 of the induction coil by means of a load 36 is connected to the spark plug 37 adjacent the gas burner 38. The spark plug is grounded as indicated at 39 and the opposite end of the secondary 35 is by means of a connection 40 also grounded.

The action of my device is therefore substantially as follows:

The action being substantially the same whether a rotary valve is used, also rotating in one direction or an oscillating valve or any means for moving the vibrator 15. It will be seen that as each tooth of the star wheel or segment engages the nub 16 that it will be pressed towards the contact arm 18 and released. This causes the vibrator 15 to vibrate due to its spring construction and having a heavy weight 17 at the upper end; thus causing a rubbing contact between the plates 22 and 28 and also periodically breaking the circuit. This action causes a high tensioned circuit through the secondary of the induction coil, giving spark at the spark plug and igniting the gas as it is turned on by the valve.

I have found that with the vibrator above described that it is an easy matter to have it make and break the circuit for about fifteen seconds or more; thus giving a prolonged series of sparks. Although I have illustrated my invention as giving a series of sparks for each position of the gas valve, those of course would have no function in lighting the gas when the gas is once lit being turned on low or when the medium flow of gas is turned on or the high, however, this is a safety precaution as if the low gas does not ignite or for any reason goes out the sparks will ignite the intermediate flow and also the full flow should the intermediate and low not be burning.

In the construction of Figs. 1 and 2, the vibrator would give a series of sparks when the gas is turned off, but this is immaterial and it is better to have the star wheel with a full set of teeth rather than to omit one or more and possibly have it wrongly set on the gas valve.

In Fig. 3 it is intended that no spark will be given when the gas is turned oif.

Although my invention is of a simple character and may be adapted to a number of different uses, it will nevertheless be apparent that it may be changed in general construction and specific details in accordance with different instaliations. Such changes however, would be within the spirit of my invention as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An ignition device comprising in combination a gas burner, a spark plug adjacent thereto, a gas valve to control the gas to the burner, a mechanically actuated vibrating electric make and break device operated directly mechanically by the gas valve and an operative electrical connection from the electric make and break device to the spark plug.

2. An ignition device as claimed in claim 1, in which the mechanically actuated vibrator comprises a vibrating structure having an electrical contact surface thereon, an electrical conductor having a contact to engage with the contact surface and means connected to the valve to initially vibrate the vibrating element.

'3. An ignition device comprising in combination a gas burner, a spark plug adjacent thereto, a rotatable gas valve to control the gas to the burner, a toothed device rotatable with the gas valve, a vibrator formed of spring material and having a Weight attached thereto, means to operate the vibrator by the toothed device, an electrical conductor having a contact adapted to form an electric contact with the vibrator and an inductance coil having its low tension Winding in circuit with the vibrator and its high tension side in circuit with the spark plug.

4. An ignition device as claimed in claim 3, in which the vibrator is provided with a nub adapted to engage the tooth device and is provided in addition with a contact surface adapted to engage the contact, the contact surface and contact being normally spaced apart.

5. An ignition device comprising in combination a gas burner, a spark plug adjacent thereto, a gas valve for the burner, an electric device to operate the gas valve having a source of power, a vibrator, means attached to the valve to mechanically start the vibration of the vibrator on operation of the valve and an electric circuit from the said source of power operating through the vibrator and electrically connected to the spark plug.

6. In an ignition device having a gas burner with a spark plug adjacent thereto, a moving element having projecting teeth or the like, a vibrator having a fixed nub adapted to engage said teeth, an electrical conductor positioned to contact with the vibrator on the movement thereof, an electric circuit through the vibrator and the electrical conductor, an electrical circuit operatively connected thereto and to the spark plug and means to move the toothed element.

7. In an ignition device having a gas burn er, a spark plug associated therewith, a vibrator formed of spring material having a nub, an electrical conductor adapted to make an electrical connection with the vibrator, a gas valve to control gas to the burner, a toothed element operatively connected to the valve, means to operate the valve and to hence operate the toothed element to engage the said nub, an electric low tension circuit through the vibrator, and an electric high ten sion circuit generated by the low tension circuit through the spark plug.

8. In an ignition device as claimed in claim 7, in which the vibrator is formed of spring material having a bend therein, the bend forming a nub, the base of the spring being solidly connected to an electric conducting structure, a weight on the upper end of the vibrator, a contact surface on the vibrator and a contact on the electrical conductor, the said contact surface and contact being normally separated and being adapted to form a rubbing engagement on the vibration of the vibrator.

SIDNEY G. MILLER. 

